Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
top of page
Drama is L i f e
Kicking off National Poetry Month, 2022, Drama is Life Productions, Inc will present Simply Langston! The Life and Times of Poet Laureate Langston Hughes, April 4 - 7, 2022.
We are so excited to have been chosen for Creative Greensboro's Residency Program at the Hyers Black box Theatre (downtown Greensboro).
Also featured, will be the Langston Hughes Jazz Band Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Charles Burns.
See you there!
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
Hello! I will be updating this page with news on upcoming events, shows, and content. Stay tuned!
Again, Welcome to donmillerdramaticarts.com. Just premiered a new Spoken Word Poetry piece entitled, "We Stand On Their Shoulders" at the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Service on January 16th at St. James Presbyterian Church (Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett). A packed house of community dignitaries, brothers and sisters who helped give commemoration to the legacy of Dr. King. We Stand on Their Shoulders was well received and look forward to performing it again --- A tribute to our Ancestors as well as present day Icons.
Outstanding service as Mayor Nancy Vaughn and other city Council members interacted with the interfaith audience and helped receive the wondrous musical gospel tribute performed by The North Carolina A&T State University Gospel Choir. Finally, The Reverend Dr. Darryl Aaron ( Pastor -Providence Baptist Church) delivered an uplifting positive message that transcended the non-violent approach led by Dr. Martin Luther King. An Outstanding day of service was had by all, for we truly do stand on the shoulders of our ancestors....
Coming up : Please reach out for booking of Black History Spoken Word by email, website or phone (look under Contact information.) Look at Resume on Website for specific Spoken Word Pieces....
Also, The Healing Blues Spoken Word Tour (April 21 - 29th) starting with the American Roots Festival - West Hartford, Connecticut. Selections from the Spoken Word CD will be featured. I have three amazing pieces on this CD ---- Simple Times, Take the Initiative and God is Love! I look forward to sharing with all. Peace and Blessings!
Click HERE to read article!
The News Sun - Waukegan (IL)
February 22, 2003
Don Miller, drama director, choreographer at Neal Math and Science Academy, put his
whole heart and soul into helping kids from Lake County prepare for auditions of Disney's
The Lion King. Miller advises Cory Connor, 11, of Waukegan, on keeping a smile on his
face while dancing. Miller held two intense workshops for the kids and brought in local
professionals to coach them in singing and dancing. Dominique Wright (right), an eighth-
grader at Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago, rehearses with classmates
during one of the two workshops put on by Miller. Wright made both the first and second
callbacks and became one of three Lake County finalists for the two available roles. Marisa
Clifton (left), 7, of Lake Villa and Emma Spencer, 8, of Waukegan, concentrate on the
directions given by Miller while learning dance moves at one of the workshops.
Lake County children of all ages worked together preparing for the Disney auditions.
Andre Teamer, a professional actor, coaches the candidates on projecting their voices
during one of the January workshops. Don Miller (left), drama director, choreographer at
Neal, smiles broadly at the efforts. Dressed in her favorite tiger-striped shirt, Myesha
Young, a fifth-grader at Katzenmaier School in North Chicago, is overcome with emotion
and leans on her mom, Alison, for support. She emerged as one of the three Lake County
finalists for the play. A group of girls take turns peeking through a slit in the covered up
window during the auditions. The girls tried to see their friends and get a preview of the
competition prior to being called for their turn to sing and dance. Eleven-year-old Cory
Connor of Waukegan steps up to sing solo in front of the Chicago Casting Company during
the auditions. It's audition day. The halls of Neal Math and Science Academy in North
Chicago are a crowded staging area for hopefuls. Over 100 students from all over Lake
County came out for the chance to put their talent on display for the Chicago Casting
Company of Disney.
Workshops, auditions and callbacks for Disney's Chicago musical production
of The Lion King proved to be a month-long treasure hunt discovering
children's special talents. Auditions were held Jan. 18 at Neal Math and
Science Academy in North Chicago. Two workshops were held prior to the
auditions. The play is scheduled to open in April.
"It was one thing to have had the Chicago Casting Company of Walt Disney call us to host
auditions; it was quite another for our students and Lake County to step up to the plate by
answering that call with unbelievable charisma and confidence," stated Don Miller, drama
director at Neal Math and Science Academy.
"These kids worked extremely hard; they saw a purpose in what they were doing. I actually
saw light bulbs turn on in some of these kids and giving up on them was not an option for
me.
"Out of the 107 students that auditioned from Lake County and the 550 kids from Chicago,
it was quite an honor to have three students from Lake County go into the final callbacks
where there was only a total of 18 students still in the running. This journey incorporated
the American Idol mystique for each child and their parents. A community was built with
the remaining kids and parents; lifelong friends were established. My hat goes off to all the
parents who were so supportive by bringing their child to the workshops, auditions and
callbacks."
The three finalists from Lake County were: Dominique Wright, eighth-grader, Neal Math
and Science Academy, North Chicago; Myesha Young, fifth-grader, A.J. Katzenmaier
Elementary School, North Chicago; and Loreal Sangster, fifth-grader, Woodland
Elementary School, Gurnee.
Inside: More "Lion King" tryout photos G4-5.
Time to shine for "Lion King" hopefuls
Singing, dancing and high hopes a plenty were in residence in North Chicago last month.
Two workshops at Neal Math and Science Academy in the city prepared hopefuls for official
auditions for Walt Disney's Chicago stage production of the musical The Lion King.
Disney was looking for two children to play the roles of African lion cubs, Simba and Nala.
Auditions, also held at Neal, followed in mid-January.
bottom of page